Medprostor: House Hribljane, Hribljane, Slovenia

Nature, by her very existence, gives us the possibility to create dwellings to protect ourselves from her – which is a paradox, come to think of it, but also very rich food for thought on the subject of dwelling.

Photo credits: Miran Kambič

Photo credits: Miran Kambič

One might ask whether we are in any contact with her at all, whether we can find everything we might need for our existence in her, and whether it should not be so that she should provide us with all the answers to our questions? We are becoming increasingly aware how the quality of life is falling and how we are losing that primal feeling of being one with Nature. Oneness (a philosophical term denoting that which exists as unified, not as individual) between ourselves, guests on this Earth, and Nature, the host, is nowadays disrupted by our desire to tame the latter.

There are some architectural projects, however, which when realised give praise to Nature, leave her the dominant place and enable her to spread all around them. Consequently, the entire ensemble works as one. As a rule, such architecture remains unnoticed, because the building is in harmony with her. In spite of everything, we are gradually becoming aware of our origin, our tradition and our roots, which provide us with an anchor and an undeniable bond – between ourselves and between us and Nature. It is only through the sum of respect for the past, the life here and now, and a curious expectation for the future, that we can create that primal familiarity which will support us in our dwelling, and lead us on the right path in the labyrinth of searching for contact with her.

The complete article is published in Autumn 2019 issue of Piranesi No. 41/Vol. 27.